We have a biter in the house!

The other day I was trying to get the kids out of the house and they were horseplaying and running around.  Usually in this scenerio someone always gets hurt or ends up crying.  Henry started crying and walking over to me as I was letting the dogs inside.  He was saying something but because he was crying it was hard to make out.  I told the kids we were leaving and to head to the garage.  I picked up Henry and got him settled and off we went.  Later that night I was getting Henry's Pj's on and I noticed something on his leg.  I thought he's been bit by a spider and then the lightbulb went off.  I looked at Vivian and said "Did you bite your brother?"  She said "no" but with a small smile. I asked her again and she said "yes" but informed me that it was an accident. She also told me that it happend cause he wouldn't move his leg....super.  She's 4 1/2, didn't think I would have to worry about biting at this age. ;-)

Vivian was heading to dance and Henry's hair looks funny cause he was wearing barretts.  I put some in Vivian's hair so he wanted some too. Monkey See, Monkey Do!

Labor Day and Beyond

So Labor Day weekend we had a last minute get together BBQ at our house.  Mike and Mindy came over with Lily and 2 week old Nolan. Tara and Joel came over with 9 week old baby Gavin and Jeremy and Jenn with Avery.  It was nice to get together and see all the kiddos. 

Last weekend on Friday night Vivian and I went to the circus (for the first time) with Jenn and Avery (2 1/2yrs) and Nikki and Harper (3yrs).  I told Vivian we were going to the circus and she got so excited and then said "What the circus?"  I'm personally not a big fan of the circus - not sure they are treating the animals like they should (poor elephants) - but I can't have my kids grow up and not see the circus. We met for dinner at Fritz's at Crown Center downtown.  Your food is delivered by trains that run around a track above the booths.  The food isn't very good, but it's cheap and it's entertaining for the kids.  While I was out with Vivian, Dan took Henry to the toy store and out to dinner.  They also went to Fritz's but not downtown.  Think they had a good boys night.  Vivian liked the circus and got a snow cone in a tiger cup and a decorative white horse.  The kids all shared cotton candy and Vivian thought that was the best thing ever! 

Saturday was our annual get together with friends for the Iowa vs. Iowa State game.  We have friends down here that went to Iowa State and several from Iowa so many Iowa fans too.  We've been rotating houses each year and have been doing it for about 5 years now.  Next year it's at our house.  It was so fun to see the kids together - Henry was loving hanging out with the other boys Chance and Harper.  They are all within 6 months of each other.  Vivian did say she didnt' want to hang out with all the boys, but Henry hangs with the ladies ALL the time so it's about time he got some boy time.  Avery was the other little girl that was there sporting her Iowa State gear.  The kids got along very well and everyone got to get their baby fix.  Vivian and Henry (mostly Henry) wanted to hold baby Gavin.  He's 15 lbs already at 9 weeks! Big boy! 

We are still working on Vivian not wearing pull ups to bed.  She's doing really well.  She goes a few nights with no accidents and then has an accident.  I'd say only 2 accidents a week.  We have a sticker chart going so every morning she doesn't have an accident she gets to put a sticker on her chart. Henry and I went and bought him a new potty on Monday.  We have one but can't locate the little piece that attaches so that little boys don't make a mess, so we got a new one.  Henry picked out the frog and he's been sitting on it.  Nothing has happened yet, but he has a star chart too and gets a star for trying.  Oh to think I wouldn't have kids in diapers anymore!! Exciting but kinda sad at the same time.  My babies are growing up! 

Both kids started school last week. Henry did great! Adjusted quickly and didn't cry at all when I left.  He took a nap during class too, which Vivian NEVER did.  Vivian likes her new teacher and her class.  She goes M/W/F mornings from 9 to 11:30. Henry goes Wednesdays from 9:30 to 2:30.  Enjoy the pictures!

Big Time!

So the last week of August I ventured up to Omaha for a few days since Jill was coming back from Colorado with the kiddos.  It was nice to get the kids together again this summer and see the twins.  My kiddos are still very much loving the babies.  Poor Jamie came barely get them into the house and Henry is saying "hold baby."  It's a good think Aunt Jamie had 2 babies to pass around to all of the cousins :-)  All the kids got along well, but Vivian and Paige's limit is about 2 - 3 days and then they are ready for a break. One afternoon I took Vivian, Paige and Henry to the park and Vivian was doing the monkey bars.  She went all the way across (10 bars) without any help at all.  It was amazing! It's crazy how strong she is! Good thing we have her in gymnastics! Cute pictures below!

We didn't do much over Labor Day weekend.  We did some things around the house and had some friends over for a BBQ on Sunday night.  I hung out on Saturday with Avery and Jenn for awhile.  Sunday we met Jenn and Avery at church and Avery and Henry are now in the same classroom during church services.  Our last minute BBQ was fun and it was nice to see everyone and get together.  Two of our friends have new babies (2 months old and 2 weeks old) so we got to see the babies and help get everyone out of their houses for a night.

Henry has added some new words to his vocabulary.  He is constantly saying "Dang it" which he got from Vivian.  Then the other night at dinner Vivian was acting like a 2 year old so I told her she was acting like "a damn baby" Henry then proceeded to say "damn baby" about a dozen times in a row.  Lovely.  Henry has been dressing himself (tops and bottoms) so Dan started calling him "Big Time" so now of course he's walking around saying "Big Time."  He's very chatty and says just about any and everything lately.  It's fun because we never really experienced it with Vivian since she spoke so well and clearly at a young age. 

Dan and I have signed up to do the Waddell and Reed KC Half Marathon in October!  Yes... 13.1 miles folks. Dan has done a half and a full marathon before (about 10 years ago) so guess we decided it was time to update that...plus I really want to put the 13.1 sticker on my car!  I know seems silly right...but still a goal :-) 

Just in case you are wondering, Henry's halloween shirt says "Will Trade Sister for Candy"  I'm pretty sure he would.  She's a bossy little thing! :-) They are also both sporting their new raincoats!  And Vivian found her very first Halloween costume and she wore it around the house all weekend.  Funny to see her in it now.  She's getting so big! Sure would be nice if we knew of a way to stop time for a little while....